What a letdown!

Members of Parliament and Malaysians were promised when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) 2008 Bill was debated in Parliament last December that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was finally going to honour his most important pledge when he became Prime Minister five years ago – to eradicate corruption and create a new political culture of public integrity with zero tolerance for corruption.

Parliament and the nation were told that MACC was going to become another ICAC (Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption) respected world-wide for its uncompromising and no-nonsense commitment against corruption without fear or favour for position, status or influence.

In less than two months, the MACC has become a joke. Instead of building public confidence in its journey to become another ICAC, feared and respected by all, it has quickly become a joke, reduced into a “Malaysian Agency for Car and Cows” for the Barisan Nasional government to victimize Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

The unprecedented statement by the MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan that the MACC has “good and strong evidence” of corruption against the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid over the car and cows controversy has destroyed whatever credibility the MACC might have among Malaysians that it would be independent, professional and uninfluenced by the dictates of its political masters.

Although Ahmad Said said the matter would be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action, the MACC Chief Commissioner has already taken the unprecedented step of proclaiming that Khalid had been guilty of corruption – which had never be done before in the history of ACA of over four decades!

Equally shocking was Ahmad Said’s statement that the MACC would also investigate allegations of abuse of power by Perak state assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar for suspending the illegitimate Perak Mentri Besar Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir and his state executive councillors from the assembly, pledging: “If its’ true that there had been abuse of power, the MACC will take appropriate action”.

When did the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) ever declare in the past 40 years that it would take action against the Speaker of Parliament for any “abuse of power” although there had not been any lack of controversies over decisions and rulings of the Speaker during the period?

Yesterday, I had called on the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to provide the leadership in the Barisan Nasional to co-operate with Pakatan Rakyat to keep the Rulers above the political fray in the Perak political and constitutional crisis as the issue in contention is not about the institution of constitutional monarchy but the people’s will on the elected government of their choice in a system of parliamentary democracy.

It is a matter of grave concern that the MACC has jumped into the Perak politic al crisis when it has no business whatsoever to get involved, as it raises the question whether the entire apparatus of state in the hands of the Federal government, including the MACC, the police, the Attorney-General’s Chambers would be abused and arrayed against the Pakatan Rakyat in the Perak political and constitutional crisis?

If so, this will be a pathetic end for the fifth premiership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and a most ominous start for the sixth premiership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

There have been calls for undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional arrogation of powers to deal with the Perak political and constitutional crisis, such as the declaration of an emergency, the misuse and abuse of draconian powers under the Internal Security Act and Sedition Act, to prop up the illegal and unconstitutional Umno power grab in Perak.

This must be resisted for Malaysia’s democracy, international standing and competitiveness will be the greatest casualties.

The dissolution of the Perak State Assembly and a snap state general election within 30 days to resolve the political crisis state is the best solution in the circumstances.

Ahmad Said should resign as MACC Chief Commissioner as he has reduced MACC into “Malaysian Agency for Car and Cows” for the BN to victimize PR instead of another ICAC respected worldwide for its fight against corruption.

How can the MACC win the confidence of the people in its credibility, independence and professionalism when it is blind, deaf and mute to the mega scandals in the country, whether the RM4.6 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal or those involving top leaders whether in Barisan Nasional or in the public service like the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General but only interested in Khalid’s “car and cows” controversy or Sivakumar’s decision as a Speaker which has nothing to do whatsoever with MACC?